Woelk: Early Issues Haunted Buffs All Season

BOULDER — Barely had the Colorado Buffaloes walked off the field Saturday before they began talking about next season.

That shouldn't be a surprise. After yet another error-prone effort led to a 20-14 loss to Utah in the season finale, 2015 will be a season players and coaches won't remember fondly. While the Buffs did take some significant steps forward in several areas in their 4-9 season, the overall attitude was already leaning toward what had to change in order for 2016 to be a success.

The process will start quickly. On Monday, a number of CU assistants will hit the recruiting trail. Meanwhile, head coach Mike MacIntyre will hold individual meetings with players; bidding the seniors goodbye one last time while providing everyone else with the beginning of an offseason plan.

It won't be a short list, for players or coaches. There will be plenty to discuss, much of which was amplified Saturday, when problems that led to defeat in the season finale were all too similar to those that contributed to a 28-20 loss to Hawai'i in the season opener.

In both games a blocked kick proved damaging. Against Hawai'i, it was a blocked punt on CU's first possession that led to a Hawai'i touchdown. Against the Utes, it was a blocked field goal on the Buffs' first possession that prevented them from taking the lead.
Red zone opportunities were squandered. Against Hawai'i, the Buffs had a drive stopped at the UH 12-yard line by an interception and finished with two scores in four red zone opportunities. Against Utah, the Buffs had a drive stopped at the UU 8-yard line by an interception and finished with one score in three red zone chances.
The offensive line struggled to protect the quarterback. Hawaii recorded four sacks against the Buffs in the season opener. The Utes had six Saturday in the season finale.

Granted, there were some differences Saturday. The Buffs were playing with a makeshift offensive line that has been a mix-and-match affair for much of the season because of injury. CU also played with its backup quarterback against the Utes — and then third-string QB — because of an injury to starter Sefo Liufau in Week 11. It's hard not to wonder if a healthy Liufau would have been a help Saturday.

Still, the similarities were not lost on anyone who watched the year unfold. Too many of the problems that plagued the Buffs in the opener were issues for much of the season — and perhaps the difference in a handful of games.

On the positive side, the Buffs did show improvement this season in the area that demanded it most — defense. After finishing 2014 as one of the lowest ranked defenses in the country in nearly every category, Jim Leavitt's crew took solid steps forward. CU finished the season yielding 27.4 points per game, nearly 12 points better than last season's 39 per contest. Just as encouraging is the fact that CU loses only three seniors off the starting defense — defensive lineman Justin Solis, cornerback Ken Crawley and safety Jered Bell — and Bell started half the season only because of an injury to sophomore Ryan Moeller.

No doubt, injuries took their toll this season. CU lost starting inside linebacker Addison Gillam and starting left tackle Jeromy Irwin in Week 2. Both will be back next season. There were also injuries at other spots on the offensive line, on defense and, of course, at quarterback. While injuries are simply part of the game, on a team that is still lacking in depth, they can be devastating.

Neither can the season's improvements be overlooked. The Buffs had fourth-quarter leads on UCLA and Arizona and a first-half 17-3 lead on USC. They were within a touchdown of Oregon with 10 minutes to play in the game, and had three terrific defensive stops that led to a win over Oregon State. There were also times when the offense showed signs of replicating its 2014 improvement, such as a 554-yard effort against UCLA.

And, there was some solid development from a host of youngsters, all of whom will be experienced contributors next season.

But overall, while the defense took significant steps forward, the offense could never shake the inconsistencies that plagued it from beginning to end.

Late Saturday afternoon, MacIntyre couldn't help but mention next year when he talked about this season's disappointments.

“We got better and better on defense,” MacIntyre said. “We should have a very, very good defense next year.”

As for the problems on offense: “I've got to do a better job of getting us to execute in the red zone.”

If there was one overriding trait of the 2015 Buffs, it was resilience. They came from behind and turned what would have been blowouts two years ago into close games. Even down the stretch, when their bowl hopes had been eliminated, they played hard.

MacIntyre and his staff deserve full credit for instilling that attitude.

But now comes what will be the most important offseason yet in the MacIntyre era, one that will be entering its fourth season.

It will see the Buffs go into spring ball without their 2015 starting quarterback, opening up an interesting battle between redshirt freshman Cade Apsay and true freshman Steven Montez — a battle that will be only more interesting if Liufau returns as planned in time for fall camp.

The offseason will also see the Buffs attempt to fill the shoes of Nelson Spruce, only the most prolific receiver in CU history, and continue the process of building stability in an offensive line that struggled with consistency this year.

And, it will see the Buffs continue the process of improving a defense that took a big step forward — but one that will need to continue that improvement if the Buffs are going to be a factor in the Pac-12 in 2016.

Saturday afternoon, defensive lineman Jordan Carrell, a junior who has been a stalwart up front all season, was already looking ahead.

“We've got to find a way to get over the hump,” Carrell said. “The offseason begins the minute we get back.”

For fans of the program, that's none too soon.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu